The following is an article by Nick Brannigan which was printed in The Natural News. It is easy to get caught up in a cause. Humans want to help others - it is our nature. It riles me when corporations and greedy people behind associations take advantage of the best of human nature and prey on the sick with misinformation and lies, while scamming them and taking their hard-earned money. And so...read on:By Nick BranniganPosted Monday, August 25, 2014 at 05:30pm EDTKeywords: als, animal testing, ice bucket challenge, lou gehrig's diseaseThere really hasn’t been anything that has gone more viral across social media this year than the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. When one is nominated to take the challenge, they have 24 hours to comply by dumping a bucket of cold ice water on their head or donate money to The ALS Association. Celebreties, and other well known public figures, such as Bill Gates, Justin Beiber, LeBron James, Robert Downey Jr, and George W. Bush have taken the challenge. The purpose of pooring ice water over your head is to temporarily feel the effects that a person with ALS might feel. As of this writing, over $62 million in donations have been raised.What is ALS? I’m glad you asked because a lot of the participants in the Ice Bucket Challenge have no idea. From ALS.org: “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.”They go on to claim there is no cure and no treatments that can reverse the symptoms. To me, this should be quite significant admission for one considering to donate their hard earned cash to this organziation. But, there are other reasons one would choose to boycott the Ice Bucket Challenge and not donate to The ALS Association.The ALS Association conducts cruel animal research.Former Baywatch star and animal rights activists, Pamela Anderson has publicly brought to light the cruel animal testing experiments funded by The ALS Association: “Recent experiments funded by the ALS Association, mice had holes drilled into their skulls, were inflicted with crippling illnesses, and were forced to run on an inclined treadmill until they collapsed from exhaustion. Monkeys had chemicals injected into their brains and backs and were later killed and dissected.” She goes on to point out that a whopping 92% of drugs that succeed in animal trials fail to have the same effect when used by humans.The ALSA promotes a highly acidic diet with lots of sugar.In the ALSA’s guide titled Maintaining good nutrition with ALS, they recommend lots of meat, fish, milk, cheese, bread and sugar. The idea behind this is that people with ALS need lots of calories to maintain their weight which is supposed to help slow the progession of the symptoms. The flaw behind this thinking is that all calories are not created equal. Just as all carbohydrates, fats and proteins are not created equal. Most animal products, especially those that are not organic or from a 100% grass fed source, are amongst the most highly carcinegenic foods available. Processed breads and refined sugars come with a laundry list of issues that contribute to poor health. Eating these foods couldn’t possibly be beneficial to people suffering from ALS.In an articles titled, Eat, Drink and Be Healthy is the Motto in ALS, the author talks about the importance of nutrition then goes on to recommend a pre-packaged shake which primary ingredients all come from genetically modified sources. A recipe is then offered using peanut butter, chocolate syrup, milk and two scoops of vanilla ice cream.ALS has been cured naturally.Dr. Craig Oster is currently raising funding to create a documentary about the lives of people diagnosed with ALS and are healing or have healed. These ALS survivors all went on to live quality lives, well beyond the two to five year death sentence, primarily through proper nutrition, detoxification and holistic medicine. They have regained motor skills, increased muscle mass and reversed other symptons of ALS, in contrary to the mainstream medical systems implications that this is not possible.If you truly want to help people with ALS, you can do the following:1. Donate to Dr. Craig’s documentary film to spread awareness on ALS survivors.2. Contact The ALS Association and condemn them about their awful dietary guidelines and policies on animal research.3. Do your own research on this topic and talk to your friends and family about it.4. Eat a diet consisting of mostly organic, unrefined, plant based foods.5. Continue to support alternative health and wellness websites, blogs, podcasts, etc.Sources:http://ecovegangal.com/act/item/1258-is-the-ice-bucket-challenge-doing-more-harm-than-goodhttp://www.naturalnews.com/032380_Lou_Gehrigs_disease_sugar.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Bucket_Challengehttp://www.alsa.org/news/media/press-releases/ice-bucket-challenge-082314.htmlhttp://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/08/23/pam-anderson-criticizes-als-ice-bucket-challenge/http://www.alsa.org/assets/pdfs/brochures/nutrition.pdfhttp://alsn.mda.org/article/eat-drink-and-be-healthy-motto-alshttp://ensure.com/products/ensure-plus-retailhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/healing-als-mnd-lou-gehrig-s-disease

I have recently come across the work of Dr. David Hawkins through Mindvalley and a webinar by Christie Marie Sheldon. It is interesting reading and food for thought. He has used muscle testing, which is quite reliable, to calibrate this scale, which he explains in his books. I disagree with some of Dr. Hawkin's philosophical tenets. He is quite dualistic – good/evil, truth/falsehood – and thereby judgmental in his terminology. I prefer to see it simply as levels of evolution or “involution” and therefore without judgment. With regard to different levels of consciousness, he states that when one has learned the “lessons” inherent in a level of consciousness and fulfilled any karma owing, one changes to the next highest level. He does state a phenomena, which I have also observed – that immediately upon moving into a higher level of consciousness one tends to meet with the negative aspects of that level first. If one can meet and move past the challenge of the negative aspects on that level (just like on a video game) one reaps the rewards of the higher level. If not one stays at the negative aspects of the level. He comments also that he sees this as the working out of karma accumulated at that level in a previous lifetime.

I believe, and this may in fact, not be in conflict with Hawkins, that our “involution” through levels of consciousness is a natural process. This process does not proceed, at least traditionally, very quickly. Whether there is more “light” available now for the “enlightenment” process, as some claim, I do not know but people do appear to be more intentionally working on becoming positive than before. It is my contention that whereas near the lowest levels of consciousness there is little understanding or even interest in becoming more enlightened, the further up the scale one progresses, the more motivation arises to keep going and therefore the ascent in consciousness takes on a more rapid progression. The one point where I differ greatly with Hawkins is his stand on traditional religious Christianity. I have read the texts, both church condoned and apocryphal and I can not believe from the words which have come down to us as attributed to Jeshua (the Christ) that he believed that we could not attain what he had - “Greater things than this shall you also do.” The proviso - “If you believe.” Hawkins believes the Church doctrine about us needing a saviour. A great teacher is a boon to be sure. But as we all have that spark of the infinite within, “the Kingdom of Heaven is within you”, if we “seek” there, we will “find”. Anyway his tables are food for thought and worth checking out his youtube stuff. He is a bit longwinded but he is somewhat amusing, which is rare for a PhD

Building on the above, Dr. Hawkins sees the Lower Mind below 200 generally but here 155 is given, as having certain attitudes, he would even say a substantially different existence than the Higher Mind. I would subdivide it further. The Lower Mind (occupied with negative thoughts <200)The Rational Mind (Logical/linear seeking cause/effect 200 - 490)The Heart/Mind (Compassionate/creative) 500 - 600)The Spiritual (Dedicated to the good of humanity /spiritual development >600)Abraham Maslow once commented about his Heirarchy of Needs that there might in fact be more needs at a higher level but that he was not able to discern them. You are only able to see your own level and the levels below yours. The higher levels remain hidden to you in detail, even if you may be dimly aware of their existence. The Table 1 below is Hawkins' original list of attitudinal difference between the Lower and Higher Mind.

So here you are running as fast as you can and still not getting anywhere?You have played by the rules, jumped through the hoops, like a good trained marmot and still no treats at the end of the cycle?What is going on? Where is the Canadian, or American, or Aussie, or _________ (fill in the blank with nationality here) dream?Feeling cheated?You are not alone. You were told a number of things growing up which you believed but which are not exactly accurate. Maybe you grew up imprinted on Disney or TV. So you figured you would be or have what they had. Perhaps you were told that working hard, going to university, keeping on the straight and narrow, and knowing the right people would lead to success. Success as it was presented to you, is a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all variety. And everyone knows that success leads to happiness, doesn't it? Well, doesn't it? So how come so glum, chum?Dammit Jim! I did everything I was supposed to - why do I still feel dead? Why is everything not making me happy? I got the wife/husband, the 1.3 kids, and the big (flat, townhouse,) house in the right part of town. I drive the right kind of car and go to the right places. I even recycle and give money to charity. But now the person I - moved in with, or am dating - is not my "beautiful wife/husband". And I am feeling less and less energy, could that be...depression?This is not what I want! Stop the wheel! I want off!Perfect! You've reached step one on the journey!Step one on the hero's journey - the journey toward self-discovery and becoming the hero you actually are. The Hero's Journey - Who? Me? A Hero?If you have followed society's formula, you will always (unless you are brain-dead) come to a point where you realize - "Hey! This isn't working for me!"The life you are shown on TV, in movies, and popular fiction, is not your life, therefore it can never satisfy you. You need to set out on your own life in order to be happy. That necessitates not looking outward - toward what society, your family, friends, or media tell you - but inward. You need to make the connection with yourself. .Only by having a life that is uniquely yours, that develops and makes the most of your own talent(s), can you ever hope to get your happiness on, achieve your destiny, and/or find your own version of success. Not sure how to do that?Learn to meditate! Learn to connect with yourself and find the answers you need to get your life going on.A Learn to Mediate class will be held at Northern Lights College late September. Time and exact date to be announced next week. If you are not in our area and can not attend physically but would like an audio or video class available online let me know (use the contact form) and I will consider that. Don't forget my book The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Meditation is available through this website or on Amazon.

Yearning for some unknown moreListlessly turning about the normal poleHiding behind and living a roleWatching others and keeping scoreSafety is deadly for the soul.Change and a lack of security Is frightening but enlightening.

Growth is a legacy yet extracts a toll,Growing toward an integrated wholeRequires letting go of society's expectationsBeing seen as an aberration, weird, too strange...Others will demand that you re-arrange.

Don't go back! Life is always forward!Step out of the shadows.Step into the light,As sure as the sun rises after the nightand the seed that was buried, seeks daylight,Risk equals growth and life.